During Kaala’s audio launch, Rajinikanth said, he asked Ranjith to do a film in Rajini’s style. However, what the audience have been given is an out and out Ranjith film.
The young director has always made sure to bring out his political ideology into the silver screen. Even his last outing Kabali with Rajini was one such film.
What makes Kaala differ from Kabali is how Ranjith has managed to shed unnecessary deviation from the main theme. With Kaala Ranjith has conveyed a strong message of rights of the suppressed people. But he has shown Hinduism in bad light, which should have been avoided.
Rajini is the leader of the people living in Dharavi, a slum in Mumbai. He opposes a project proposed by politician Nana Patekar to reform the slum area.
In this feud Rajini’s wife and his elder son are killed. Nana Patekar tries to take over the land using force. How Rajini defends the land, Is Nana Patekar able to fufill his dream forms the rest of the story.
One of the biggest strengths of the movie is the amount of detailing Ranjith has done in the flick. Every frame and dialogue has an hidden meaning and conveys a point.
The storyline may look simple and predictable, but the way in which it is executed is what might make Kaala one of the best films of Ranjith’s career.
Every character in the movie plays an important role. Story is the hero of the movie and everyone including Rajini plays along with it. With all his experience Rajini is seen in a different shade in the flick.
He is not only used for the mass scenes but goes through an emotional roller coaster ride as well. Be it the scenes with his sons and grandchildren, expressing his love for his wife Eswari Rao, getting lost in memories on seeing his ex-lover Huma Qureshi, sharing rapport with his friend Samuthirakani, Rajini has owned the character Kaala.
Instead of unnecessary punch dialogues, the superstar has shown mass with his silence and the credits should be given to Ranjith. The director has handpicked the cast and has got what he wanted.
He has also utilised Rajini in a better way than any other director has done in the recent times. Sample this, Rajini in an inebriated state is taken to a police station where he is asked by a Minister to stop fighting against Nana Patekar.
This particular sequence has managed to bring various emotions including humour, anger and sympathy- all of which were nailed by Rajini.
Nana Patekar proves to be a strong villain who can oppose Rajini and looks convincing in the role as much that people start hating him when they leave the theatre.
On the flip side, the movie starts slowly with the love portions and gains speed when it nears the interval block. After that it is completely action driven. There is too much of political references and messages. The movie might also play a crucial role in Rajini’s political career.
Technically, Santhosh Narayanan’s BGM elevates every scene in the movie. It makes the audience feel the emotion of the characters. He has managed to incorporate the sounds that can be heard in the slum area, thus giving the film a real feel.
Cinematography by G Murali is a visual treat and has captured the slum as it is. Editing by A Sreekar Prasad is crisp.
Kaala is yet another Ranjith’s movie which has managed to tap and utilise Rajini’s mass screen presence.
Plus points of the film are Rajinikanth, Nana Patekar, Easwari Rao.
Rating: 2.5/5 – Pa Ranjith’s message with Rajini’s mass
